Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Agreed DB,

You can get around 1300W of stationary conventional photovoltaic mdoules for that much, plus batteries and inverters. I really can't see the big deal with that model. It is very sneaky how they word it...

The big advantage with these modules is that 1) They track the sun... 2) They use, what looks to be a fresnell lense to focus the beam onto smaller solar panels inside.

If you can scab enough over head projectors (the ones with the lamp and fresnel lense) you could in fact make your own. You could make the traker for about $200 and voila!!! Sun Cube!

I thought I'd add too, if you grid connect it... Ie plug it into the grid and get money off the meter... 600KW anually is $80 a year at the COST of power not the price you will get. For the 6000KW it is $800 max. You will pay one module off in 20 years...

Darn, everytime I get enthussed about something solar .. along comes a voice of reason and puts it back in perspective.

TimC you seem to be pretty well up with the theory behind solar and its ineffeciencies, just what is the major problem holding back solar and are there avenues still left to explore...

there ya go mate... PHD coming up there and solution to worlds problems LOL

Hah, yeah people always say I might be a doctor in something one day... I think I am too lazy for that... I'll see what I can do for the world though...

Don't get me wrong on the SunCube, is a brilliant concept and it is one of the paths for the future. The problem is of course the cost of the units. However as it is higher efficiency and built in sun tracker it would be ideal as a stand alone or remote power source. For residential purpose I would wait a bit for the price to come down, unless you do have $15,000 + installation cost ($2,500+) with no gov rebate to spare.

Yeah the rebate thing s#%$#@ts me.

I mean the more people embrace the technology the cheaper the cost of production becomes and the more encouragement and reward for design advancement and research.

As to phasing out the rainwater/greywater tank rebate that's even more bloody ludacrous

Much better! $15,000AU is for 10 panels and the grid connect inverter. I was reading to quickly and missed some facts. I guess $1AU ~ $1.33US. If so, then this is still pricey. It does track the sun and should out perform flat panels significantly. Still waiting for $2.00US/watt (maybe $2.50 if I get impatient ).

All I know is that when I had flat panels quoted here, they wanted $23000 incl installation after rebate. That was going to give me an average of 12 kwhrs per day. For less than $20,000 without rebates, the suncube gives over 16 kwhrs per day. I know which one I would choose

Lets assume the solar cube is 2kW per hour. Solar panels after rebate for 2000W approx $15000 not inc batteries/charge controller/inverter from solar sales.

And remember would you ever buy the first model of anything?? It is still in testing, how long will the lenses last. Are the thin film PV going to last for 20+ years.

Apples are not orrages... but just as good! This comparison is so BS!!!
http://www.greenandgoldenergy.com.au/im ... ranges.jpg

I sppose only time will tell.

That is right, I hope it does crush all the current day PV systems, and I will be the first to buy one (small ones).... or make one..... hmmmm!!! Untill then, good luck with their testing... just lower the price...

On the price thing, when I first looked at them they were $12000. No mention of $2500 for installation etc etc. You can hardly blame the guy for wanting to get as much as possible for the system, but according to him, he wants to lower the peak load on our electricity grid. To do that more succesfully, would be easier at $12000 than $20000 esp if there was a profit to be made at $12000. Anyway, that's business........

Where's the love?

This guy hasn't got off the ground and already we want him in jail...


Mind you some of the bias info is VERY suspect...

(com'on guys/ gals which guineapig has $14,500 dollars to spare. Maybe I ate the bugger last year (we were desperate!). I'll check he's effect for a pin no. or something...

Curosity has got the better of me.
How noisy are wind generators??
I start sourcing what I need from the 15th Jan 2007, when I'm in my new house on a 1/2 acre paddock with no trees or Wind obstructions . I have already teed up a heap of 2 volt lead acid Deep cycle batteries (cheap, cost of a few slabs of VB) what I don't have is a way to charge them, Wind generators on ebay seem to be reasonably cost $/watt output compared to solar but there is this matter of noise I'd hate to upset my new neighbours as it is only a very small community where I have purchased this property.
Cheers
Ron

There is little to no noise. We have farms of them in Texas. What upsets the neighbors is the sight of these big things in the yard.